Low profile cable tie with prebent strap

ABSTRACT

A low profile cable tie, preferably a two-piece cable tie, has a low profile locking head with a lateral strap accepting channel and a strap preferably molded with a right angle bend that is retained in this state during non-use. The cable tie has a clean exterior appearance, including a top surface free of openings and a smooth lateral opening. With this cable tie, a strap accepting channel is provided in the locking head that is substantially parallel to a strap attachment axis. The strap accepting channel divides the locking head into a first part, which is secured to the strap, and a second part which contains a locking device. By providing the locking device on the second part, the first part can be made thinner, allowing the strap accepting channel to be closer to the cable bundle being tied. Further, in the case of a two-piece cable tie having a metal locking device, the locking device is preferably bent so as to have a fixed end substantially parallel to the strap accepting channel axis and a free end positioned within the strap accepting channel at an acute angle relative to the strap accepting channel axis. A bottom wall may be shorter in length than an upper wall to define a recessed inset that widens the effective strap accepting channel entrance without increasing the height of the locking head. The inset also allows entrance of the strap over a broader range of entrance angles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a low profile cabletie with a bent cable strap. More particularly, the invention relates toa two-piece cable tie with a lateral strap accepting channel in thecable tie head and a prebent right angle strap attached thereto.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Plastic cable ties, and in particular plastic cable ties havingmetal locking device inserts, are well known in the art. Examples ofsuch include U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,598 to Mariani and U.S. Pat. No.5,517,727 to Bernard et al.

[0005] Cable ties of this type, referred to as two-piece cable ties, aregenerally illustrated by FIGS. 9 and 10 and include a metal lockingdevice 910 partially embedded at an angle within a strap acceptingchannel 920 of a cable tie head 930. The metal locking device 910 issituated at an angle that allows insertion of a cable tie strap 940 inan insertion direction, but allows for engagement of the locking device910 with the strap when it is pulled in a removing direction to preventremoval. The metal locking device of such conventional cable ties is inthe form of a cantilevered beam that is fixed at one end and extendsinto the strap accepting channel at the free end.

[0006] As shown in FIG. 10, these conventional two-piece cable ties havea strap accepting channel perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of thehead. That is, the channel exits a top surface of the cable tie head asshown. In such designs, the large open space on the top surface of thecable head necessary to enable insertion of the metal locking devicemakes the appearance unclean. Also, when bundling a cable bundle 950,the conventional two-piece cable tie may interfere more with other cablebundles or objects because the head of the cable tie extends too farbeyond the cable bundle periphery (i.e., to the left and above the cablebundle as shown in FIG. 10).

[0007] There is a need for an improved two-piece cable tie that has alower profile.

[0008] There is a further need for a cable tie having a clean, aestheticexterior appearance.

[0009] There is yet a further need for a two-piece cable tie that canachieve a reduced installation size to minimize space constraints forthe tie. That is, a reduction in height and width attainable wheninstalled on a cable bundle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is an object of the invention to provide a two-piece cable tiehaving a low profile locking head with a lateral strap accepting channeland a prebent right angle strap.

[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide a two-piececable tie having a clean exterior appearance, including a top surfacefree of openings and a smooth lateral opening.

[0012] It is a further object of the invention to provide a two-piececable tie with a strap accepting channel that extends tangential to acable bundle and is nearer the cable bundle when installed.

[0013] It is yet a further object of the invention to provide atwo-piece cable tie having a low profile locking head with a lateralstrap accepting channel and a prebent right angle strap attachedthereto.

[0014] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a cable tiewith a strap accepting channel parallel to a longitudinal axis of thehead while having an entrance channel that can accommodate insertion ofa strap end over a greater angular range and accommodate the width ofthe strap to minimize overall cable tie dimensions during use.

[0015] One or more of the above and other objects are achieved by a lowprofile cable tie, comprising: a strap having a predetermined thicknessand including a first end that is molded with a right angle bend and afree end; a locking head including a strap accepting channel in the headthat divides the locking head into a first part and a second part, thestrap accepting channel having a strap entry end and a strap exit end onopposite ends of a strap accepting channel axis, the first part of thelocking head being secured to the first end of the strap along a strapattachment axis which is substantially parallel with the strap acceptingchannel axis, the locking head further including a locking devicereceiving cavity located on the second part adjacent to and open towardthe strap exit end of the locking head; and a locking device mountedwithin the locking device receiving, the locking device including a freeend angled at an acute angle relative to the strap accepting channelaxis and extending into the strap accepting channel. A top surface ofthe locking head is provided immediately adjacent the locking device andhas a thickness extending above the locking device that is no more thanthe thickness of the strap and where the first part has a thickness thatis no more than the thickness of the strap. The locking device ispreferably a metal locking device.

[0016] One or more of the above and other objects of the invention mayalso be achieved by a low profile cable tie, comprising: a strap havinga predetermined thickness and including a first end and a free end; alocking head including a strap accepting channel in the head thatdivides the locking head into a first part and a second part, the strapaccepting channel having a strap entry end and a strap exit end onopposite ends of a strap accepting channel axis, the first part of thelocking head being secured to the first end of the strap along a strapattachment axis which is substantially parallel with the strap acceptingchannel axis, the locking head further including a locking devicereceiving cavity located on the second part adjacent to and open towardthe strap exit end of the locking head; and a metal locking devicemounted within the locking device receiving cavity, the metal lockingdevice being mounted within the locking device cavity by having a fixedend mounted to a mounting slot in an internal wall of the second part,the fixed end being oriented substantially parallel to the strapaccepting channel axis, the metal locking device further including abent free end angled at an acute angle relative to the strap acceptingchannel axis and extending into the strap accepting channel. The lockingdevice is preferably a metal locking device.

[0017] One or more of the above and other objects may further beachieved by a method of forming a low profile cable tie, comprising thesteps of: molding a cable tie strap with a predetermined thickness, thestrap having a first end with a substantially right angle bend in anon-use state and a free end; forming a locking head secured to thefirst end of the strap, the locking head including a strap acceptingchannel having a strap entry end and a strap exit end aligned along astrap accepting channel axis, the strap accepting channel dividing thelocking head into a first part and a second part, the first part of thelocking head being secured to the first end of the strap along a strapattachment axis which is substantially parallel with the strap acceptingchannel axis, the locking head further including a locking devicereceiving cavity located in the second part of the locking head adjacentto and open toward the strap exit end of the locking head; forming alocking device with a fixable end and a free end that is angled at apredetermined acute angle relative to the fixed end; and providing thelocking device in the locking device receiving cavity of the second partof the locking head so that the free end of the locking device extendsinto the strap accepting channel and the fixable end is securely fixedto the second part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The foregoing and further objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent from the following description ofpreferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a cable tie according tothe present invention;

[0020]FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a cable tie according to the invention;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the cable tie of FIG. 2 takenalong line 3-3;

[0022]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a locking head of the cabletie of FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4;

[0023]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cable tie showing aninitial feeding of the strap into a strap accepting channel;

[0024]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cable tie of FIG. 5 afterthe strap has been fully inserted and locked in place around a bundle ofcables;

[0025]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cable tie of FIG. 5 afterthe strap has been fully inserted and locked in place around a singlecable;

[0026]FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cable tie of FIG.1 better showing details of the strap entrance;

[0027]FIG. 9 is a side view of a conventional two-piece cable tie; and

[0028]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional two-piececable tie locked in place around multiple cables.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] An inventive cable tie 100 will be described with reference toFIGS. 1-8. Cable tie 100 includes a locking head 102 and a strap 104.Cable tie 100 can be made from various materials as known in the art.Suitable materials include by way of example, nylon, polypropylene, andvarious fluoropolymers. Cable tie 100 can be formed in various sizes andlengths to suit a particular application as also known in the art.Obviously, desired loop tensile strength is one factor to decide whenselecting sizing of the strap, locking head and other components.

[0030] Locking head 102 includes a strap accepting channel 122 and alocking device receiving cavity 180, both extending substantiallyparallel to a longitudinal axis P of locking head 102. Strap acceptingchannel 122 is provided to receive strap 104 and includes a strap entryend 168 through which strap 104 is first inserted and a strap exit end166 (see FIG. 3) through which strap 104 exits. The strap entry and exitare oriented along axis P. As best shown in FIGS. 3-4, strap acceptingchannel 122 is formed by an end wall 124, a bottom wall (exterior wall)126, and side walls 128. Strap accepting channel 122 has a predefinedwidth sufficient to receive strap 104 and may be provided with a supportguide 114 including a ledge 116 protruding from bottom wall 126. As bestshown in FIG. 8, a leading edge 126A of bottom wall 126, in the regionof the strap accepting channel 122, is inset from the full length L oflocking head 102 by an inset distance I. As such, bottom wall 126 has alength L-I. Inset I is preferably greater than the thickness T of strap104. Advantages of such a structure will be discussed below whendescribing operation of the cable tie.

[0031] Referring back to FIG. 1, strap 104 includes a first end which isfixedly attached to and bent closely adjacent a lower comer of lockinghead 102 at approximately a right angle to axis P. That is, the firstend is formed with a right angle bend, which bend is essentiallyretained in a static non-use state. Strap 104 has a predefined thicknessand further preferably includes standard gripping ridges 108 (see FIG.3) on the outside surface of an angled and tapered second free end 112of strap 104. Strap 104 may be provided with a longitudinally extendingcentral groove 110 on the inside surface as shown in FIGS. 1-2. Centralgroove 110 may have an increased width, such as by providing a V-groove120, near the first bent end as best shown in FIGS. 1-2.

[0032] As best shown in FIG. 3, strap accepting channel 122 divides thelocking head 102 into a relatively thin first part (shown to the rightof channel 122) that attaches to the first end of strap 104 and a secondpart (shown to the left of channel 122) that contains the locking devicereceiving cavity 180, and which receives a locking device 136. Cavity180 is adjacent to and open toward the strap exit end 166 of the lockinghead to allow access for partial embedding of locking device 136 in amounting slot 130 of end wall 124 to define a cantilever beam structurehaving a fixed end 134 and a free end 138 that extends into strapaccepting cavity 122. Locking device receiving cavity 180 also allowsfor movement of locking device 136 during use. Mounting slot 130 may bepreformed in an interior surface of cavity 180 or may be formed as aresult of pressing an end 134 into the surface of endwall 124. Anopening 132 may be provided between mounting slot 130 and interior wallportion 142.

[0033] This structure is useful in attaining a low profile cable tie dueto several individual features. First, by orienting the strap acceptingchannel 122 as shown, the channel can be located tangential to the cabletie bundle being bound. Further, as the locking device is provided onthe second part, the first part (which includes bottom wall 126) can bemade thinner. This allows the strap when inserted through the strapaccepting channel 122 to be closer to the cable bundle. While someminimum thickness is required for structural rigidity, it is possible tomake bottom wall 126 the same thickness or even less than that of strap104 (thickness T in FIG. 8). To further minimize the profile, the topouter surface 146 above the locking device 136 that forms a top of thecable tie head is preferably made to be thin and has no upwardlyextending projections. This surface may extend above the locking deviceby a thickness that again can be less than the thickness of strap 104.The particular size of the strap may vary depending on application. Whenthe locking device 136 is a metal locking device, the profile can befurther reduced from the conventional two-piece design shown in FIGS. 9and 10 by providing a bent locking device as shown in FIG. 3, with afixed part 134 that is substantially parallel with the strap acceptingchannel. This minimizes the required height of the locking devicereceiving cavity 180 and thus assists in reducing overall cable tie headheight. Further, by making the top surface smooth and free of upwardextending openings, the cable tie is less likely to snag on, abrade orinterfere with adjacent wires or cable ties. This can be furtherassisted by rounding the edges as shown.

[0034] Locking device 136 is preferably formed from a corrosionresistant metal, such as stainless steel, as known in the art. Whilelocking device 136 may take a conventional straight form, it ispreferably bent or formed so that free end 138 (mounted end) is at apredetermined angle relative to fixed end 134. This allows for areduction in cable head height and thus achieves a lower profile head.Moreover, by providing a prebent locking device 136, easier insertion oflocking device 136 into cavity 180 can be attained. In any case, freeend 138 extends into the strap accepting channel at an acute anglerelative to the axis of strap accepting channel 122 facing strap exitend 166 and the locking device 136 is provided on the second part of thelocking head 102.

[0035] During non-use, cantilevered metal locking device 136 is locatedadjacent a fulcrum point defined by an upper edge of interior wall 142.Metal locking device 136 has a free length defined from the fulcrumpoint to free end 138 that allows free end 138 to extend into channel122 by a distance to sufficiently engage strap 104 and preventwithdrawal of the strap from the channel.

[0036] Use of the inventive cable tie to bundle or wrap one or morecables 170 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5-7. FIG. 5 showsinitial insertion of leading end 112 of strap 104 into leading end 168of strap accepting channel 122. Due to the provision of the inset of anend surface 126A of bottom wall 126 by a distance I (best shown in FIG.8), the leading end 112 of strap 104 can be inserted over a broad rangeof entrance angles. This facilitates easier positioning of leading end112 within channel 122. Moreover, when strap 104 is inserted at steepangles relative to axis P, as illustrated by the rightmost strap in FIG.5, the overhanging portion of inner wall 124 reliably receives andguides the leading end 112 into channel 122. This further assists inreliable operation of the cable tie.

[0037] Insertion continues from that shown in FIG. 5 to that shown inFIG. 6, where the strap 104 has passed metal locking device 136 andmetal locking device 136 has begun biting into the strap to restrain thestrap from removal. At this point in time, cable tie 100 is sufficientlytight around an object to be constrained, such as cable bundle 170.Strap 104 may be self-aligned in strap accepting channel 122 by themating of central groove 110 around support guide 114 as shown. For thisexample, portions of leading end 112 extending beyond exit end 168 oflocking head 102 have been shown cut and removed. However, the leadingend may also be retained.

[0038] By provision of this inset I, the effective height or thicknessof the channel entrance 168 can be increased without increasing totalheight of locking head 102 or making the remaining thickness or heightof the channel much larger than the thickness of strap 104. This assistsin achieving an overall low profile head design.

[0039] By locating the locking device 136 on the top side of the lockinghead (second part of the locking head opposite the first part that issecured to strap 104), the strap accepting channel 122 can be locatedcloser to the bundle. Moreover, by use of a bent locking device, thesecond part of the locking head can have a reduced height, which furtherassists in achieving a low profile cable tie design.

[0040] While being able to accommodate a large bundle of cables 170, theinventive cable tie 100 is also able to accommodate a very small bundle,or even a single cable 170. This is shown in exemplary FIG. 7 where asingle cable 170 is constrained by cable tie 100. Due to the bent firstend of strap 100, flexing occurs at the bend and the strap can eitherexpand to accommodate receiving a large cable bundle (as in FIG. 6) orcan closely conform to the small cable 170 (as in FIG. 7). Moreover, byprovision of inset I and the low profile head 102, free end 112 of thestrap can be inserted to closely conform to cable 170. It is preferablefor inset I to be the same or larger than the thickness of strap 104 sothat the strap in use during the strapping of a very small bundle ofcables may not stick out beyond the overall length of the cable tielocking head 102 as measured along the strap accepting channel axis.This achieves a cable tie structure which when in use can achieve aminimal peripheral profile compared to conventional two-piece cable tiessuch as that shown in FIG. 9. That is, the cable tie 100 does not extendmuch beyond the periphery of the cable (in width) due to the bent strapend, the inset I, and the strap accepting channel orientation, and doesnot extend much beyond the periphery of the cable (in height) due to thelow profile head design, which is achieved by various combinations ofthe strap accepting channel orientation, the thin first part of thelocking head, and a bent metal locking device.

[0041] While the systems of the invention have been described inconjunction with the specific embodiments outlined above, it is evidentthat many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments areintended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A low profile cable tie, comprising: a strapincluding a first end that is molded with a substantially right anglebend and a free end; a locking head including a strap accepting channelin the head that divides the locking head into a first part and a secondpart, the strap accepting channel having a strap entry end and a strapexit end, the first part of the locking head being secured to the firstend of the strap along a strap attachment axis which is substantiallyparallel with strap accepting channel axis; and a metal locking devicemounted to the locking head through a locking device receiving cavity byhaving a fixed end mounted within a mounting slot in an internal wall ofthe second part, and a free end angled at an acute angle relative to thestrap accepting channel axis and extending into the strap acceptingchannel, wherein the fixed end is oriented substantially parallel to thestrap accepting channel axis.
 2. The cable tie of claim 1, wherein thesecond part has an overall length along the strap accepting axis and thefirst part is formed by a bottom wall having a length shorter than theoverall length of the second part such that an end surface of the bottomwall adjacent the strap accepting channel entrance is inset from acorresponding end surface of the second part to increase the effectiveopening height of the strap accepting channel and allow strap entranceover a larger range of entrance angles.
 3. The cable tie of claim 2,wherein the inset is at least the thickness of the strap.
 4. The cabletie of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the locking head has noupwardly extending projections.
 5. A low profile cable tie, comprising:a strap having a predetermined thickness and including a first end thatis molded with a substantially right angle bend and a free end; alocking head including a strap accepting channel in the head thatdivides the locking head into a first part and a second part, the strapaccepting channel having a strap entry end and a strap exit end, thefirst part of the locking head being secured to the first end of thestrap along a strap attachment axis which is substantially parallel witha strap accepting channel axis, the locking head farther including alocking device receiving cavity located on the second part adjacent toand open toward the strap exit end of the locking head; and a lockingdevice mounted within the locking device receiving cavity, the lockingdevice including a free end angled at an acute angle relative to thestrap accepting channel axis and extending into the strap acceptingchannel, wherein a top surface of the locking head is providedimmediately adjacent the locking device and has a thickness extendingabove the locking device that is no more than the thickness of the strapand where the first part has a thickness that is no more than thethickness of the strap.
 6. The cable tie of claim 5, wherein the secondpart has an overall length along the strap accepting axis and the firstpart is formed by a bottom wall having a length shorter than the overalllength of the second part such that an end surface of the bottom walladjacent the strap accepting channel entrance is inset from acorresponding end surface of the second part to increase the effectiveopening height of the strap accepting channel and allow strap entranceover a larger range of entrance angles.
 7. The cable tie of claim 6,wherein the inset is at least the thickness of the strap.
 8. The cabletie of claim 5, wherein the locking device is a metal locking device. 9.The cable tie of claim 8, wherein the metal locking device is mountedwithin the locking device cavity by having a fixed end mounted to amounting slot in an internal wall of the second part and a free end ispositioned within the strap accepting channel.
 10. The cable tie ofclaim 5, wherein the metal locking device is a bent metal locking devicein which the fixed end is oriented substantially parallel to the strapaccepting channel axis.
 11. The cable tie of claim 5, wherein the topsurface of the locking head has no upwardly extending projections.
 12. Alow profile cable tie, comprising: a strap having a predeterminedthickness and including a first end and a free end; a locking headincluding a strap accepting channel in the head that divides the lockinghead into a first part and a second part, the strap accepting channelhaving a strap entry end and a strap exit end on opposite ends of astrap accepting channel axis, the first part of the locking head beingsecured to the first end of the strap along a strap attachment axiswhich is substantially parallel with the strap accepting channel axis,the locking head further including a locking device receiving cavitylocated in the second part adjacent to and open toward the strap exitend of the locking head; and a metal locking device mounted within thelocking device receiving cavity, the metal locking device being mountedwithin the locking device receiving cavity by having a fixed end mountedto a mounting slot in an internal wall of the second part, the fixed endbeing oriented substantially parallel to the strap accepting channelaxis, the metal locking device further including a bent free end angledat an acute angle relative to the strap accepting channel axis andextending into the strap accepting channel.
 13. The low profile cabletie of claim 12, wherein the first end of the strap is molded so as tobe preformed with substantially a right angle bend.
 14. The low profilecable tie of claim 13, wherein a top surface of the locking head isprovided immediately adjacent the metal locking device and has athickness extending above the metal locking device that is no more thanthe thickness of the strap and where the first part has a thickness thatis no more than the thickness of the strap.
 15. A method of forming alow profile cable tie, comprising the steps of: molding a cable tiestrap with a predetermined thickness, the strap having a first end witha substantially right angle bend in a non-use state and a free end;molding a locking head secured to the first end of the strap, thelocking head including a strap accepting channel having a strap entryend and a strap exit end aligned along a strap accepting channel axis,the strap accepting channel dividing the locking head into a first partand a second part, the first part of the locking head being secured tothe first end of the strap along a strap attachment axis which issubstantially parallel with the strap accepting channel axis, thelocking head further including a locking device receiving cavity locatedin the second part of the locking head adjacent to and open toward thestrap exit end of the locking head; forming a locking device with afixable end and a free end that is angled at a predetermined acute anglerelative to the fixed end; and providing the locking device in thelocking device receiving cavity of the second part of the locking headso that the free end of the locking device extends into the strapaccepting channel and the fixable end is securely fixed to the secondpart.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the locking device is formedfrom metal.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of providingthe locking device in the locking device receiving cavity orients thefixable end to be substantially parallel to the strap accepting channelaxis.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the second part has an overalllength in the strap accepting axis and the first part comprises a bottomwall formed to have a length shorter than the overall length of thesecond part such that an end surface of the bottom wall adjacent thestrap accepting channel entrance is inset from a corresponding endsurface of the second part to increase the effective opening height ofthe strap accepting channel and allow strap entrance over a larger rangeof entrance angles.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the inset isformed to be at least the thickness of the strap.
 20. The method ofclaim 15, wherein a top surface of the locking head is providedimmediately adjacent the locking device and formed with a thicknessextending above the locking device that is no more than the thickness ofthe strap and where the first part is formed with a thickness that is nomore than the thickness of the strap.
 21. The method of claim 20,wherein the top surface of the locking head has no upwardly extendingprojections.